Klinkenborg, the Hawkeyes’ leading tackler in games he has played, started and didn’t wait long to make an impact in the 31-6 loss.
With Purdue leading 7-0 late in the first quarter, Klinkenborg, a senior, drifted back in zone coverage and intercepted Curtis Painter at the Boilermakers’ 29. It was Klinkenborg’s first career interception, and it led to an Iowa field goal.
“Klink came back this week and made a huge play for us intercepting that ball,” said defensive tackle Mitch King. “That was a huge play for us.”
Klinkenborg had been sidelined by headaches and an extreme sensitivity to light. Saturday, he wore tinted contact lenses to dampen the sun. He had extra padding in the back of his helmet to protect his head from another concussion. He said he has suffered others before.
“I never thought of not playing,” Klinkenborg said. “That was never an option. You want to be out there as much as possible, but you’ve got to be smart about it as well.”
Everson stays home
Reserve freshman defensive back Cedric Everson did not make the trip to Purdue.
Ferentz said Everson “came up short in a couple of departments for me last week, and we opted not to bring him.”
Asked if Everson’s shortcomings were on or off the field, Ferentz replied: “That’s a matter between he and I. It was my judgment not to bring him. We’ll see how it goes.”
Everson, a Detroit native, has played in five games this season, mostly on special teams. But he did play in a dime set against Indiana on Sept. 29.
Off-the-field issues have plagued the Hawkeyes since April, as 11 players have been arrested 14 times since the conclusion of spring practice. Reserve running back Dana Brown was arrested Tuesday on charges of domestic assault. He was kicked off the team.
Line shift
After going with Bryan Bulaga and Dan Doering at offensive guard in the second half of last week’s win over Illinois, Kirk Ferentz started the pair Saturday.
Bulaga, a 6-foot-6, 290-pound true freshman started in place of Travis Meade on the left side and played the entire game. Doering, a sophomore, rotated possessions with freshman Julian Vandervelde on the right side.
“It’s nice (to get the start),” Doering said. “But we didn’t win the game. We’ve got a lot more work to do. We’ve just got to come back. We’ve got four games left in the season.”
More injuries
Albert Young and Kenny Iwebema left Saturday’s game with injuries midway through the second quarter. Iwebema suffered what Ferentz called a mild concussion and did not return. Young bruised his right knee and played one possession in the second half but did not touch the ball. He said he was fine after the game. … Receivers Colin Sandeman and Trey Stross did not make the trip, leaving Iowa with only three scholarship receivers on the field. Sandeman sprained an ankle this week in practice and Stross is continuing to have trouble with a strained hamstring suffered in the preseason. … Linebacker A.J. Edds injured an elbow in the third quarter and did not return. He was replaced by Jeremiha Hunter. … Tight end Tony Moeaki, who has been out since dislocating his elbow and breaking his hand Sept. 22 at Wisconsin, dressed Saturday but did not play. Ferentz expects him back next week when the Hawkeyes play host to Michigan State.
Contact Eric Page at (563) 383-2277 or epage@qctimes.com.
